Introduction: HIV-1 infection may produce a detrimental effect on the immune response. Early start of antiretroviral therapy (ART) is recommended to preserve the integrity of the immune system. In fact, people with HIV (PWH) and normal CD4/CD8 ratio appear not to be more susceptible to severe forms of COVID-19 than the general population and they usually present a good seroconversion rate in response to vaccination against SARS-CoV-2.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPartial mitochondrial cox1 gene sequences from four recently recognised European species of terrestrial planarians, and ribosomal ITS1 sequences for two of them, are presented: Marionfyfea adventor, Artioposthia exulans (both introduced from New Zealand), Australopacifica atrata (from Australia) and specimens putatively identified as Microplana edwardsi, presumed to be native to the UK. The sequences are compared with those from other terrestrial planarian species and analysed phylogenetically. Results indicate that the sister group of M.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSpringtails are a group of hexapods whose true diversity is currently underestimated. This is because the morphological characters normally used in species diagnosis do not have the necessary resolution. This situation is especially evident in Entomobryidae, which is currently the most diverse family of springtails.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe cave fauna of the Macaronesian archipelagos is rich in endemic species. Unlike the Azores and the Canary Islands, the cave fauna of the Madeira archipelago is little known. The only two cave complexes studied, Machico and São Vicente, lack protection measures.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Environ Res Public Health
January 2023
The main objective of this study was to determine the influence of the cytotoxic activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) on the outcome of unvaccinated individuals with critical COVID-19 admitted to the ICU. Blood samples from 23 individuals were collected upon admission and then every 2 weeks for 13 weeks until death (Exitus group) ( = 13) or discharge (Survival group) ( = 10). We did not find significant differences between groups in sociodemographic, clinical, or biochemical data that may influence the fatal outcome.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground/aim: Renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is present in a diverse type of cells and plays an important role in lung physiology and pathophysiology. Angiotensin converting enzymes (ACE) are part of the RAS system. There are still controversies about the association of I/D polymorphisms of ACE1 with COVID-19 severity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCancers (Basel)
November 2022
The humoral immune response developed after receiving the full vaccination schedule against COVID-19 is impaired in individuals who received anti-CD20 therapy 6-9 months before vaccination. However, there is little information about the cellular immune responses elicited in these individuals. In this study, we analyzed the humoral and cellular immune responses in 18 individuals with hematological disease who received the last dose of rituximab 13.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe Mediterranean is one of the most biodiverse areas of the Paleartic region. Here, basing on large data sets of single copy orthologs obtained from transcriptomic data, we investigated the evolutionary history of the genus Dugesia in the Western Mediterranean area. The results corroborated that the complex paleogeological history of the region was an important driver of diversification for the genus, speciating as microplates and islands were forming.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe clinical presentations of COVID-19 may range from an asymptomatic or mild infection to a critical or fatal disease. Several host factors such as elderly age, male gender, and previous comorbidities seem to be involved in the most severe outcomes, but also an impaired immune response that causes a hyperinflammatory state but is unable to clear the infection. In order to get further understanding about this impaired immune response, we aimed to determine the association of specific HLA alleles with different clinical presentations of COVID-19.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The 2020 pandemic of SARS-CoV-2 causing COVID-19 disease is an unprecedented global emergency. COVID-19 appears to be a disease with an early phase where the virus replicates, coinciding with the first presentation of symptoms, followed by a later 'inflammatory' phase which results in severe disease in some individuals. It is known from other rapidly progressive infections such as sepsis and influenza that early treatment with antimicrobials is associated with a better outcome.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLGMDD2 is a rare form of muscular dystrophy characterized by one of the three heterozygous deletions described within the gene that result in the addition of a 15-amino acid tail in the C-terminus.TNPO3 is involved in the nuclear import of splicing factors and acts as a host cofactor for HIV-1 infection by mechanisms not yet deciphered. Further characterization of the crosstalk between HIV-1 infection and LGMDD2 disease may contribute to a better understanding of both the cellular alterations occurring in LGMDD2 patients and the role of TNPO3 in the HIV-1 cycle.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIndividuals with oncohematological diseases (OHD) may develop an impaired immune response against vaccines due to the characteristics of the disease or to its treatment. Humoral response against SARS-CoV-2 has been described to be suboptimal in these patients, but the quality and efficiency of the cellular immune response has not been yet completely characterized. In this study, we analyzed the early humoral and cellular immune responses in individuals with different OHD after receiving one dose of an authorized vaccine against SARS-CoV-2.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Using the internet to search for information or share images about self-harm is an emerging risk among young people. The aims of this study were (a) to analyze the prevalence of different types of self-harm on the internet and differences by sex and age, and (b) to examine the relationship of self-harm on the internet with intrapersonal factors (i.e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMain cause of severe illness and death in COVID-19 patients appears to be an excessive but ineffectual inflammatory immune response that may cause severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Vitamin D may favour an anti-inflammatory environment and improve cytotoxic response against some infectious diseases. A multicenter, single-blind, prospective, randomized clinical trial was approved in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia and levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) of 14.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOncohematological patients show a low immune response against SARS-CoV-2, both to natural infection and after vaccination. Most studies are focused on the analysis of the humoral response; therefore, the information available about the cellular immune response is limited. In this study, we analyzed the humoral and cellular immune responses in nine individuals who received chemotherapy for their oncohematological diseases, as well as consolidation with autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT), after being naturally infected with SARS-CoV-2.
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